I started the couch to 5K program, but found the clock timing to be just too difficult. What I did instead was count strides in blocks of 200, so I started running 25 and walking 175, then 50 and 150, then 100 and 100... you get the picture. I'm old (52) so I did not push myself. It took me two months to get to running full time.

I get antsy now I if don't run three miles a day, and five mile days are common. I still run slow, though. Like 11 minute miles. I'm going to work on speed a little more now that I've got some level of CV fitness.

The think that really allowed me to start running again was... doing it barefoot. There are lots of good web sites on barefoot running out there. Barefoot running changes your stride dramatically, so you take shorter steps more frequently and land on your forefoot, outside first then roll in. (very much like when your run in place.) It's murder on your calves for the first month, but knees, hips, back, etc. feel great. There's a park where I run with a paved path around it, without busted glass, etc. I run to it in my shoes (NB MT101s, very low heel lift), then take them off to do my three miles.

For the winter, I'm looking at the Merrell "glove" shoes, which have zero heel lift, zero arch, are very flexible, but do not look like Vibram FFs, a look which I could just not pull off. The Merrells look an awful lot like regular running shoes.

The only downside of barefoot running is you quickly come to hate shoes of any kind. I'm next going to buy some of those driving mocasins to wear to work (the ones that look like loafers) because any heel at all drives me insane.

Awesome work Gburg. I did 3.2 miles today on the elliptical on level 19 out of 20. I'm about to buy some new running shoes so I can start doing 5 miles a day on the flat grounds of the mean streets of The Danger Zone. What kind of running shoes do you guys wear?

I tried on a shoe with Nike+ and it just didn't feel good. The Nike+ chip or w/e was pushing into the sole of my foot. Had the shoe not had that, I would've gotten that pair. Try them on somewhere before you buy them.

That's my plan, I'm going go to Dicks or some other sporting goods store and try some out before I buy. The biggest problem is that in some shoes I wear a 14, which is often hard to find at brick-and-mortar stores.

I run barefoot most of the time, including last night (I have a great place to run with no broken glass, etc.).

When I'm forced to wear shoes, I wear my NB MT101s, but I'm switching to these shortly, because I can't stand any heel elevation anymore. Cold weather is coming, so I'll be spending most of my running time in shoes.

That's my plan, I'm going go to Dicks or some other sporting goods store and try some out before I buy. The biggest problem is that in some shoes I wear a 14, which is often hard to find at brick-and-mortar stores.

That's my plan, I'm going go to Dicks or some other sporting goods store and try some out before I buy. The biggest problem is that in some shoes I wear a 14, which is often hard to find at brick-and-mortar stores.

you live in crystal city- in back of pentagon row is a great running shop- try on there, but online

I run barefoot most of the time, including last night (I have a great place to run with no broken glass, etc.).

When I'm forced to wear shoes, I wear my NB MT101s, but I'm switching to these shortly, because I can't stand any heel elevation anymore. Cold weather is coming, so I'll be spending most of my running time in shoes.

you live in crystal city- in back of pentagon row is a great running shop- try on there, but online

If they've got them there in my size I got no problem dropping a C note on a pair of bad azz kicks. Still being a total fatazz I'm leery of going to running stores for the same reason I stay away from bike stores.

If they've got them there in my size I got no problem dropping a C note on a pair of bad azz kicks. Still being a total fatazz I'm leery of going to running stores for the same reason I stay away from bike stores.

My fat ass has gone in there with my very pregnant wife- they were actually really helpful